Fastening-inserting machine



May 7, 1940. F. E. sfRATToN FASTENING-INSERTING MACHINE Filed Jail. 24, 1938 Pi l- 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 7, 1940..

' FASTENING-INSERTING MACHINE F. E. STRATTON 2,199,514

Filed Jan. 24, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1940- I F. E. STRATTON 2,199,514

FASTENING-INSERTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24-, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 7, 1940 UNITED STATES 7 FASTENING-INSERTING MACHINE Frank E. Stratton, Beverly, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Borough of Flemington, N. 3., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 24, 1938, Serial No. 186,534

65 Claims.

This invention relates to machines by which fastenings, such as nails, are inserted to attach work-portions to one another. A field of especial utility is in connection with apparatus for nailing heels to shoes.

In the heeling of shoes by nails or other fastenings inserted from within a shoe through the heel-seat into an applied heel, the force necessary to drive the nails is considerable, and its tendency is to displace the work from the supporting jack. To overcome this, an adequate opposing force must be exerted. When a complete attaching group of five or more nails is simultaneously driven, this retaining pressure 15. may become excessive, it being often suiiicientto crush the commonly used wood heel or to deform its covering. With a less hold-down-pressure, the work might be separated from the jack-top by the driving force, resulting in nails not fully sunk in the insole and crippled by lack of proper lateral retention. It is an object of my invention to eliminate the necessity for the employment of excessive forces and to improve generally fastening-inserting machines, particularly with reference to the actuating mechanism for the drivers and pressure mechanism, and to the mounting and adjustment of the work-support or jack and of the pressure-abutment or abutments.

In the attainment of this object, a feature of the invention involves the division into sets of fastening-drivers reciprocable in a support or jack adapted to enter a shoe and arranged in accordance with an inserting design lying substantially concentric to the heel-seat-margin of the shoe, and the actuation of these sets of drivers by a plurality of such rotatable actuating members as cams, each of which acts individually upon a set of drivers. In this Way, the driving forces may be reduced proportionately to the division of the drivers into sets, and the work-displacing eiiects correspondingly lessened. Then, too, because of the creation of smaller stresses in the machine, it may be more lightly constructed and the cost of maintenance reduced. Means is pro- 45 vided for transmitting successively the effect of the cams to the sets of drivers and may consist of a plurality of fiat plates, movable side by side and resting, respectively, upon the cams, each of which is in substantial contact with adjacent cams, combined with concentric cylinders for communicating the movement of the plates to the sets of drivers. By this arrangement, the transmitting means may be compactly organized, as for introduction into a relatively small and vertically extended frame-column. The drivers aremounted upon plates other than the movement-transmitting plates just referred to, these driver-plates lying one above another in parallel planes and being movable in spaces separated vertically With the driver-plates, the cylindri- 5 cal members may contact. A spring acts upon one. of the sets of drivers to return it to its normal position after the inserting stroke, and there is means for applying the effect of this spring to the other sets of drivers. Preferably, the outer cylindrical transmitting member is separably latched to the upper driver-plate to compel them to move together, and the spring acts upon this outer "member to effect the retraction of the drivers, means passing from the thus-actuated 15 cylinder through slots in the other cylindersto retract them without interfering with their operation. Means is included for insuring the return to normal of the driver-plates not directly acted upon by the spring. As herein disclosed, this is accomplished by spring-plungers carried by certain of the driver-plates and contacting with others. In the driver-assembly, the plate which carries one set of drivers is provided Withopenings, and in these openings, the driver's upon another plate are guided. The drivers of this second set and those upon other plates may be movable along ways in their plates, to be positioned by their passage through the openings. The guiding'plate also offers lateral support to the relatively long drivers.

Another feature of the invention has to do with theobtainingof a relative adjustment between the nail-engaging ends of the drivers and the work-supporting top of the jack, determining simultaneously for all the drivers the depth to which the heads of the nails shall be sunk in the insole of the shoe operated upon. This is in addition to. the usual individual adjustment of drivers upon their plates and includes means for varying the vertical relation of the jack-top to the driver-ends. The preferred manner of accomplishing this adjustment is to mount the jack upon theupper of two superposed base-pieces, which are carried by the frame of the machine and have inclined contacting surfaces. By moving one of the base-pieces laterally of the jack in the direction of the inclined surfaces by a screw rotatable in one of the pieces and threaded into the other, a wedging effect is produced, which will either raise the jack or cause it to be lowered. There is means for preventing lateral movement of the jack and one of the base-pieces. As illustrated, this consists of a .projection from the jack extending through the base-pieces into the frame and passing with clearance only through that piece which is to move laterally. To permit ready removal of the jack, the projection is in the form of a pin made in two sections, one fast in the jack and the other seated in the frame and provided with a socket to receive the companion section.

In the application of power to the pressureabutment or abutments to retain the work upon its support against the displacing efiect of the inserted fastenings, the use of fluid connecting means is effective, and, as a further feature of the invention, when this connecting means is employed with a plurality of sets of drivers which are individually actuated by plural members, such as cams movable by power mechanism, I prefer to use one of these members for controlling the fluid connecting means. Improvements have also been made in this connecting means. A cylinder is connected to the pressure-abutments and has within it a piston provided with a passage, and a valve is mounted upon and is movable with the piston to open and close the passage. Upon a rotatable power-shaft is means, as separate cams, for engaging the piston to actuate it and for actuating the valve to govern the connection of the piston to the cylinder to control theactuating movement or the retraction of the abutments. To limit the force which the fluid connecting mechanism will apply to the work, the movement of the cylinder is communicated to the abutments through a normally compressed spring, which will yield after the force exerted has reached a predetermined amount. As herein disclosed, the cylinder is mounted upon siderods movable in the frame and carrying about them preloaded springs, preferably adjustable to vary the load and interposed between the cylinder and side-rods. The valve which controls the flow of fluid between the cylinder and piston may encounter resistance to its opening because of the body of fluid enclosed between the cylinder and the end of the piston with its valve. I therefore provide means for relieving this resistance, such means preferably being included in the means by which the valve is operated. The arrangement which I have chosen to illustrate comprises a valve-actuating rod formed in relatively movable sections, there being a by-pass or passage connecting opposite sides of the closedvalve and controlled by one of the sections. A spring interposed between such controlling section and a companion section exerts its force, when the bypass has been opened, to unseat the valve.

Still another feature of the invention deals with the hold-down or pressure mechanism. Cooperating with the jack and its drivers is a movable support, upon which a heel-tread abutment and a rear abutment are pivoted. Upon the two abutments a member, for example a screw with its threads, acts simultaneously to adjust them as to their angular relation in opposite directions and retain them in their adjusted relation. The

organization in its preferred form has a carrierlever pivoted upon the support, with the treadabutment mounted upon it, while an arm is pivoted upon the lever and has upon it the rear abutment, the adjusting screw being shown as engaging nuts swiveled upon the lever and the arm. The lever is also provided with a separate angular adjustment. With this arrangement, adjustments for different types or heights of heels may be made quickly, and the pivotal mounting of the abutment-carrying members causes them to move through paths which lend themselves to the secure retention of heels having widely varying characteristics.

One of the many embodiments which this invention may assume appears in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows the improved heel-attaching machine in front elevation with parts in section;

Fig. 2 is a separated perspective view of the jack and its supporting and adjusting elements;

Fig. 3, a vertical, transverse and generally central section through the machine;

Fig. 4, an enlarged sectional detail of the fluid connecting means;

Fig. 5, a top plan view of the jack;

Fig. 6, a view similar to Fig. 2 of the driverassembly and the movement-transmitting cylinders;

Fig. 7, a central vertical section through the pressure mechanism applied to the clamping of a high heel, and

Fig. 8, a like view, showing the pressure mechanism acting upon a relatively low heel.

At the front and top of a frame-column ID, a cap 52 is mounted, this carrying a jack-body H! with its shoe-supporting top-plate IS. The jack contains driver-passages I8, here shown as six in number and arranged in the customary horseshoe form, substantially concentric to the periphery of the jack-top. Interposed between the jack and cap is a lower base-piece 2B and an upper base-piece 22 arranged to adjust the height of the jack-top. The lower piece 29 is movable from front to rear of the machine along horizontal ways 24 in the cap (Fig. 2). It has in its upper portion ways 26, inclined downwardly from front to rear of the machine and receiving the upper piece 22. Ihis piece 22 and the jack-body are held against movement with the base-piece 20 by pins 28 and 30.- The pin 28 is seated in a vertical bore in the cap and passes between spaced sides of the piece 20, while at the top of said pin 28 is a socket to receive the pin 30 which is fast in the jack-body. The jack is secured to the base-piece 22 by'a screw 32, threaded through the latter and engaging the pin 30. This permits it to be removed readily for the substitution of another, containing passages i8 corresponding to a different nailing design. Rotatable in a depending portion of the base-piece 22 is a screw 34 threaded through the front of the base-piece 2E1. Rotation of the screw will move the piece 28 in its ways 24 upon the cap laterally of the jack and in the direction of the inclined Ways 26, and by the action of such inclined ways will either raise or lower the jack, the pin 30 moving similarly through the bore in the pin 28 and being held thereby against horizontal movement. A spring 25%, projecting from the base-piece 22 and engaging anyone of a circular series of notches in the head of the screw 34, holds the base and jack in the adjusted position.

Movable in the jack is a compound driverassembly D arranged to insert, in successive groups, nails supported by drivers 40 operating in the passages iii. In the present embodiment of the invention, the insertion is in three groups of two nails each. Journaled horizontally in the column 10 is a driving shaft 42 receiving power from an unillustrated source through gearing M, a flywheel 46 and clutch mechanism 48. Secured to the shaft in vertical alinement with the jack are three driver-actuating cams 5U, 52 and 54, closely placed side by side within the column. Guided to move vertically side by side in a chamber in the column are three fiat plates 56, 58 and the intermediate members 62, 64 and 66.-

60, respectively resting upon the cams 50, 52 and 54. Movement of the plates under the influence of the cams is communicated individuallyto respective concentric cylindrical members 62, 64 and 66 supported by the plates. The member 62 of the plate 56 is tubular and is at the outside, the member 64 of the plate 58 being guided within it, while the member 66 is shown as a rod within the tubes 64 and 62, it conveniently being integral with the plate 60. The set of plates is maintained in contact with the cams, and the cylindrical members in contact with the plates, by an expansion-spring 68 abutting at its upper extremity against a portion of the frame and at the bottom against a pin 10 held in horizontally alined openings in the member 62 and passing through slots in the members 64 and 66. The pair of lower and upper actuating members 56 and 62 are, first elevated by the cam 50 against the expansive force of the spring 68, the pin I0 traveling through the slots in the members 64 and 66, which then follow successively under the influence of the plates 58 and 60 and their cams 52 and 54. When the upward movement is completed, and the plates are released by their cams, the pin I6, impelled by the spring, first lowers the member 62 and its plate 56 and then the members 64 and 66 of the plates 56 and 60 by its contact with the bottoms of the slots in the members.

Considering the driver-assembly proper, this has three parallel driver-plates 12, I4 and I6 (Fig. 6) movable in spaces separated vertically one above another and actuated, respectively, by To accomplish this, the upper end of the member 62 engages the under side of the upper plate I2. This plate has fixed in it a pair of drivers 40, which are distinguished from their companions by the superscript a. The plate I4 carries drivers 40, 40 rising from blocks I8, I8 guided in ways extending across the plate. These drivers are also guided by openings SI, 8| in the plate I2,

and their plate rests upon the upper extremity of the intermediate member 64, while lateral extensions 82, 82 project into slots 84, 84 in the member 62. The central actuating member 66 contacts with the lower end of a boss 86 depending from the plate I6 and which has a reduced and preferably integral shank 88 received by an axial bore in the rod. The plate I6 is relatively narrow or of bar-shape and moves in transversely alined slots 90, 90 in the member 62 and 92, 92 in the member 64. In its ways 94, blocks 96, 96 are movable, these having fixed in them the driver-pair 40, 40. These drivers, like the drivers 40 40 are guided by openings 91, 91 in the plate I2. The plate 12 thus affords lateral support for the relatively long drivers of the two lower plates. The plate I4 is cut away to permit the drivers 40, 40 to pass. The openings 8| and 91, together with those which receive the drivers 40 40 are arranged in accordance with the nailing design which is to be employed. When this design is to be changed, a plate I2 with the correctly situated drivers 40 and associated openings will be substituted, while the drivers 46' and 40 may be adjusted along their ways in the plates 14 and 16, to enter the openings BI and 91.

' The height of the drivers to determine the depth to which they shall sink the heads of the attaching nails in the heel-seat of the shoes being operated upon, may be determined individually by the customary threads and nuts 98 upon the drivers. For the entire assembly, their relation to the jack-top for the same purpose is adjusted by raising and lowering the jack by shifting the base-portion 20 by the screw 34, as already described. The entire driver-assembly D, together with the cylindrical actuating member 62, are held together separably in operating relation by opposite spring-latches I00, I00 secured to the member 62 and provided with hooked ends which engage shoulders I02 on the plate 72. This allows the assembly and cylinder to be lifted from the machine as a unit, after the jack has been removed, another assembly corresponding to a different design latched in place in the cylinder, and these elements, with the appropriate jack, substituted. The plate 72 and its cylinder 62 are returned to normal after thedriving stroke has terminated by the spring 66, which has, however, no direct effect upon the driver-plates I4 and I6 To insure that these shall assume their normal positions, spring-plungers I64 and I06 are mounted upon the plates I2 and I6, respectively. During the successive driving strokes of the plates 12, I4 and 76, the springs of the plunger are compressed, and then, as the plate 12 is lowered by the spring 68, these plunger-springs expand to force down the plates I4 and I6 to their initial positions.

To hold the work upon the jack-top I6 against the displacing forces exerted when the groups of nails are driven, pressure mechanism P is employed, this acting upon the heel being attached. The mechanism P is preferably supported by a slide H0, adjustable horizontally from front to rear of the machine by a screw and hand-Wheel I I2, which moves it upon the upper extremity of a yoke I14. The arms of this yoke are attached at II6 to side-rods H8, H8 guided for vertical reciprocation upon the column I0. Bridged across the lower portion of the side-rods at I20 is the support of a vertical cylinder I22. The support rests upon helical springs I24, I24 sur-- rounding the rods and contacting at their lower ends with nuts I26 threaded upon the rods. The springs are normally compressed by the nuts to urge together shoulders I2'I upon the side-rods and the upper surface of the support I20, so, if a downward force is applied to the cylinder, it will be communicated through the support and springs to the side-rods, and therefore to the pressure mechanism P to hold the heel and shoe upon the jack. When the thus applied force exceeds that necessary tofurther compress the preloaded springs, said springs will yield. Consequently, the pressure upon the clamped work is correspondingly limited. Connected to the cylinder I22 by a link I28 is a treadle I30, which, at I32, has a yieldable fulcrum and, adjacent to said fulcrum, has pivoted to it a link I34 by which the clutch 48 is controlled. A tensionspring I35, joining a downward projection from the cylinder to the frame, holds said cylinder and the treadle normally raised. Movable within the cylinder is a tubular piston I36 depending from a crosshead I38, which is guided at I39 for vertical movement in the frame and is carried yieldably by springs I40 interposed between it and said frame At the front and rear of the crosshead, rolls I42, I42 are rotatable, and With these contact cams I44, I44 upon the shaft 42,

so when said shaft turns through 360, a movement of reciprocation is imparted to the piston.

As appears in Fig. 4, the cylinder and tubular piston contain a fluid, such as oil, the passage of which between the two elements is governed by a valve I46 arranged to open and close the lower end of the piston, said valve being seated against an annulus I47 inserted in the piston. The rod or stem I48 of the valve is guided at its upper and lower portions in the piston and is urged upward by a spring I50 surrounding the stem and situated between a portion of the crcsshead I38 and a head I52 upon the stem. Pivoted upon the crosshead is a contact-arm I54, the inner end of which is laterally extended to both rest upon the head of the valve-stem and to be engaged by the driver-actuating cam 50. When the ma- ,chine is at rest, the cam depresses the valve, so

the end of the piston is open, and the cylinder may move with relative freedom over it. As soon as the cam leaves its normal position, the arm I54 is released, allowing the spring ISQ to force the valve against thev annulus to close the opening and thus trap in the cylinder a body of fluid, which, when the piston is depressed by the cams I44, will compel the cylinder to move with it. When the cam 56 returns to the position at which it forces down the valve-rod to open the pistonend and uncouple the cylinder from it, the fluid enclosed in the chamber between the lower end of the cylinder and the valve would resist the movement of said valve. This I avoid by providing means for venting the chamber at the beginning of the downward travel of the valve-rod. This has movable with it two telescoping lower sections I60 and I62 (Fig. 4). The section IE9 is tubular and is fast upon the main section I48, which extends into an enlargement 6 5 of the section IEQ. The lower section I62, carrying the valve MS, has a stem guided in the section I89 and a head I65 within the enlargement, limiting downward movement under the influence of a spring I65 interposed between the valve and the section I60. A vent-opening I58 through the wall surrounding the head permits said head to travel freely within the enlargement. Through the annulus is a central passage IIil through which the stem-section I62 extends, this passage also serving as a guide for a cylindrical enlargement I12 upon the lower extremity of the stemsection I60, which enlargement has a sliding fit within the passage. In the outer wall of the annulus is a relief-passage I14, furnishing a by-pass between the interior of the cylinder I22 and the piston I38. At the upper and inner portion of this passage is a port controlled by the upper edge of the enlargement I12. A passage I16 in the annulus permits free flow through the piston from the lower portion of the cylinder when the valve I46 is open. With the valve closed, downward movement of the stem-section 180 at first somewhat compresses the spring IEBfi, because of the resistance offered to the valve-movement by the liquid confined below it. But immediately thereafter, the port of the passage IN is opened, as the enlargement I'IE passes it. This establishes communication past the valve between the interior of the cylinder and the piston to release the liquid from the former, so the spring I63 may expand to force the valve from its seat, fully opening the end of the piston. The cylinder is now free to move independently of the piston.

The work-engaging elements of the pressure mechanism P (Figs. '7 and 8), the movement of which is controlled by the treadle mechanism and hydraulic mechanism just described, preferably comprises two abutments, a plate I86 for contact with the tread-surface of a heel to be attached and a fork I52 for contact with the rear of the peripheral wall. These work-engaging members are mounted in the following manner: Depending from the supporting slide I I6 is a bracket I84, upon which is fulcrumed a carrier-lever I 86, shown as made up of two spaced sections. Between these sections, at the forward extremity of the lever, a block I88 is secured, and guided in ways in this block is a slide I99, upon which the tread-plate I8!) is pivoted for an angular movement of self-adjustment. Longitudinally of the lever, this abutment may be adjusted by a screw I92, turning in the slide ESE! and threaded into the block I88. At the opposite side of the leverfulcrum from the tread-plate, the rear fork I82 is supported upon an arm I94 pivoted upon the lever. The lower end of the arm has ways I96 in which the opposite sides of the fork may be adjusted toward and from each other by a right and left screw I98 rotatable in a bracket 200 (Fig. 1) attached to one side of the arm I94. Between the sides of the lever I86 and between spaced portions of the arm I9 4, two nuts 202, 202 are swi'veled, and through them. a right and left screw 2% is threaded. A spring 206 joins the rear of the lever I85 to the slide III) and holds a crossrod 2&8 of the lever normally against an adjusting screw 2H3, by which the normal angular relation of the lever may be varied. This adjustment is such that when the pressure mechanism decends to apply heel-clamping pressure, the tread plate will first engage the heel. Upon further downward movement, the lever I86 is rocked to cause the engagement of the fork I82 with the heel. As the force applied to the head continues, the lever may tilt about its fulcrum to equalize the pressure upon the two heel-surfaces. When this pressure is applied in the proper vertical direction, as determined by adjustment of the slide I IS, the pressure exerted by the two members will be the same, so the heel will be held firmly, without tendency to displacement upon the heel-seat. To obtain the proper engagement with the tread and rear of the heel, the plate I86 may be adjusted fore and aft by the screw I92, and the distance between the two heel-engaging members may be varied through their movement simultaneously by the screw 2 34. Figs. '7 and 8 show this last adjustment, respectively, for a high and a comparatively low heel. In the first instance, the separation is greater because of the greater height and the forward pitch. It will be seen that because of the arcuate paths which the two abutments are caused to follow by their pivotal mountings and because of their common adjusting member, they are shifted simultaneously in the general direction of the height of the heel to be clamped, while the rear abutment follows a path which has a curvature or direction somewhat resembling the contour of the rear of the heel. The pressure of the tread-abutment. therefore, tends to be always along the axis of the heel and that of the rear abutment such as to resist disengagement. Indicating hands M2, M2 (Fig. 3), fast upon the fulcrum-spindles of the lever %85 and the arm I94 and movable over scales 2M, 2M, ali'ow adjustments to be repeated accurately for particular types of heels without trial.

To outline'the general operation of the machine, a jack it, it: and a driver-assembly D are applied, these corresponding to the chosen nailing design. The plate I2 of the assembly with its drivers W will be changed for each design, while the drivers 63 and le will be positioned by said plate. The relation of the drivers to the jack-top is adjusted by raising or lowering the jack by the screw 36, and the pressure mechanism P arranged by the screws v2I0, 204 and I92 to the best advantage for the type of heel being attached. Nails N are supplied to the driverpassages I8; a shoe S is jacked, and a heel H placed upon its heel-seat. The operator then depresses the treadle I30, which turns about the fulcrum I32, lowering the cylinder I22 and, therefore, the head P through the cylinder-support I20, springs I24, side-rods H8 and yoke II4, to apply preliminary or measuring pressure to the work. At this time, the valve I46 is held open by the cam 50 and the arm I54, as appears in Fig. 3, so the fluid contained in the cylinder and in the piston I36 is free to flow from one to the other. Therefore, substantially no resistance is offered by the fluid to the movement of the pressure-head. The plate I80 strikes the tread of the heel, the lever I86 turning clockwise to bring the fork I82 against the rear of the heel. Both contact members being thus seated, and the depression of the treadle continuing, the fulcrum of the treadle shifts to the link I28. This causes the rod I34 to rise, tripping the clutch 48 to apply power to the shaft 42. .As this shaft rotates,

the cam 50 at once releases the arm I54 and the valve-rod I48, I60, I62, so the valve I46 is raised by the spring I50 and closes the passage between the cylinder and the piston (Fig. 4). Rotation of the shaft continues, and the cams I44, I 44, acting through the rolls I42 and support I38, urge down the piston I36, the springs I40 yielding. Because the cylinder is locked to the piston by the substantially noncompressible body of fiuid retained in said cylinder by the valve I46, power is transmittedfrom the shaft to the head P to apply to the work final pressure, this being limited to practically the amount to which the springs I24 have been loaded. This applied force is of such an amount as to insure against injury to the heel. The work having been thus clamped, the cams 50, 52 and '54 become successively effective to elevate the plates 56, 58 and 60, together with the cylinders 62, 64 and the rod 66, and the supported driver-plates I2, I4 and I6. Therefore, the drivers II! first insert a pair of nails through the heel-seat of the shoe S into the heel I-I, followed by the drivers 40 and,

finally, the drivers 40. The nail-driving force applied at one time is thus reduced to one-third of that required were all six nails to be inserted simultaneously. The necessary hold-down pressure applied by the head P may be correspondingly reduced, and all danger of splitting the heel or deforming its covering may be eliminated. The spring 68, which was compressed as the pin I0 rose with the cylinder 62, exerts its force as the high points of the cams 50, 52 and 54 pass the plates 56, 58 and 60 to first retract the cylinder 62 and then the cylinder 64 and the rod 66. The spring-plungers I64 and I06 make certain the descent of the driver-plates I4 and I6, to which the force of the spring 68 is not directly applied. The cam 50, on its return to its initial position, forces down the valve-rod I48. This lowers the rod-section I60, so its enlargement I12 opens the port of the passage I14 in the annulus I41, and the spring I66 between the section and the valve I 46 is compressed. As the enlargement I64 moves along the head of the section I62, fluid escapes from within said enlargement through the opening I68. uncovering of the passage I'I4, fluid is free to flow from the previously closed chamber at the end of the cylinder, and the spring I66 is per- .mitted toact, with little opposing resistance, to

With the open the valve I46. The capacity of the fluid to 6 flow from the cylinder past the open valve into the body of the piston, disconnects said piston from the cylinder, so the spring I35 may act upon'rele'ase of the treadle to restore the pressure mechanism P to its normal raised position. The cams I44 have freed the piston I36, which is elevated by its springs I40. All the elements have now assumed their'normal relation, and upon removal of the heeled shoe from the jack, the machine is ready for another operation.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is;

1. In a fastening-inserting machine, a support adapted to'enter a shoe, a plurality of sets of fastening-drivers arranged to reciprocate in the support and arranged in accordance with an inserting design lying substantially concentric with the periphery of the heel-seat-margin of the shoe, and a plurality of rotatable cams, each of the-cams acting individually upon a set of drivers.

2. In a fastening-inserting machine, a support adapted to enter a shoe, a plurality of, sets of fastening-drivers arranged to reciprocate in the support, a shaft rotatable below the support, and a plurality of cams secured to the shaft, each cam being in substantial contactwiththe ad jacent cams, and each acting individually upon a set'of drivers. 1 I

3. In a fastening-inserting machine, a support adapted to enter a shoe, a plurality of sets of fastening-drivers arranged to reciprocate in the support, a plate upon which each set of drivers is mounted, a plurality of rotatable cams, each cam being in substantial contact with the adjacent cams, and movement-transmitting means resting upon eachcam and corresponding in width thereto, each suchmeans contacting with one of the driver-plates.

4:.In a fastening-inserting machine, a fram a work-support mountedgthereon, a plurality of sets of fastening-drivers arranged to reciprocate in the-support, a plurality of fiat plates reciprocable side by side inthe frame, a plurality of actuating members rotatable in the' frame, one of the actuating members contacting with each plate to effect its reciprocation, and means for communicating the movement of the plates individually to the sets of drivers.

5. In a fastening-inserting machine, a frame,

a work-support mounted thereon, a plurality of sets of fastening-drivers arranged to reciprocate in the support, a plurality of flat plates reciprocable side by side in the frame, a plurality of actuating members rotatable in the frame, one of the actuating 'members contactingwith each plate to effect its reciprocation, and a plurality of concentric members for communicating the movement of the' plates to the sets of drivers.

6. Ina fastening-inserting machine, a support; adapted to enter a shoe, a plurality of sets of fastening-drivers arranged to reciprocate in the support, a plurality of rotatable cams, a plate upon which each set of drivers is mounted,

.said plates being situated one above, another,

to reciprocate in the support, a plurality of rotatable members for imparting to the sets of drivers their fastening-inserting strokes, a spring acting upon one of thesets of drivers to return it to its normal position, and means for communicating the effect of the spring to the other sets of drivers. I

I 8. In a fastening-inserting machine, a worksupport, a plurality of sets of drivers arranged to reciprocate in the support, a plurality of rotatable members for imparting to the sets of drivers their fastening-inserting strokes, means for retracting one set of drivers, and means carried with said set for retracting another set.

9. In a fastening-inserting machine, a worksupport, a plurality of sets of drivers arranged to reciprocate in the support, a plurality of rotatable members for imparting to the sets of drivers their fastening-inserting strokes, a spring for retracting one set of drivers, and a spring carried with said set for retracting another set.

10. In a fastening-inserting machine, a support adapted to enter a shoe, a plurality of sets of fastening-drivers arranged to reciprocate in the support, a plurality of rotatable cams, a plate upon which each set of drivers is mounted, movement-transmitting means resting upon each cam and contacting with one of the driver-plates, a spring urging one of the transmitting means toward its cam, and means for communicating the effect of the spring to another transmitting means.

11. In a fastening-inserting machine, a frame, a work-support mounted thereon, a plurality of sets of fastening-drivers arranged to reciprocate in the support, a plurality of plates reciprocable in the frame, a'plurality of actuating members rotatable in the frame, one of the actuating members contacting with each plate to effect its movement, a plurality of concentric members for communicating the movement of the plates to the setsof drivers, and a member extending transversely of one of the concentric members and being fast therein, said transverse member being movable through a slot in another eccentric member and contacting with the end of said slot.

12. In a fastening-inserting machine, a support adapted to enter a shoe, a plurality of sets of drivers arranged to reciprocate in the support, a plurality of flat plates reciprocable side by side and connected respectively to the sets of drivers, and a plurality of rotatable plate-actuating members, one of said members being individual to each plate.

13. In a fastening-inserting machine, a worksupport, a plurality of sets of drivers co-operating with the support, a plate individual to each set of drivers and to which they are attached, plural means for moving the plates, and means for connecting one of the moving means and its driver-plate to compel them to move together in opposite directions.

14. In a fastening-inserting machine, a worksupport, a plurality of sets of drivers co-operating with the support, a plate individual to each set of drivers and to which they are attached, plural means for reciprocating the plates, and latches carried by one of the reciprocating means and releasably engaging its plate.

15. In a fastening-inserting machine, a worksupport, a plurality of sets of drivers co-operating with the support; and a plate individual to each set of drivers and to which they are attached, one of said plates being provided with guiding openings and the drivers of the other plates being movable in ways in their plates and guided in the openings.

16. In a fastening-inserting machine, a worksupport, a plurality of sets of drivers co-operating with the support, a plate individual to each set of drivers and to which they are attached, a spring-plunger carried by one plate and acting upon another plate, and means for reciprocating the plates.

17. In a heel-nailing machine, a frame-column, a jack supported upon the column and provided with driver-passages arranged in a series substantially concentric to the periphery of the jack top, a plurality of sets of drivers reciprocating in the passages, a shaft rotatable in the column below the jack, and a plurality of cams fast upon the shaft, each cam imparting to a set of the drivers the nail-inserting movement.

18. In a heel-nailing machine, a frame-column, a jack supported upon the column and provided with driver-passages, a plurality of sets of drivers reciprocating in the passages, a plate to which each set of drivers is secured, a shaft rotatable in the column below the jack, a plurality of cams fast upon the shaft, each cam imparting to a set of the drivers the nail-inserting movement, a set of transmitting plates guided side by side in the frame, one of the plates resting upon each cam,

and a set of concentric cylinders actuated by the transmitting plates and engaging the driverplates.

19. In a heel-nailing machine, a frame-column, a jack supported upon the column and provided with driver-passages, a plurality of sets of drivers reciprocating in the passages, a plate to which each set of drivers is secured, a shaft rotatable in the column below the jack, a plurality of cams fast upon the shaft, each cam imparting to a set of. the drivers the nail-inserting movement, a set of transmitting plates guided side by side in the frame, one of the plates resting upon each cam, and a set of concentric cylinders actuated by the transmitting plates, there being slots in the cylinders to receive the driver-plates.

20. In a heel-nailing machine, a frame-column, a jack supported upon the column and provided with driver-passages, a plurality of sets of drivers reciprocating in the passages, a plate to which each set of drivers is secured, a shaft rotatable in the column below the jack, a plurality of cams fast upon the shaft, each cam imparting to a set of the drivers the nail-inserting movement, a set of transmitting plates guided side by side in the frame, one of the plates resting upon each cam, and a set of concentric cylinders actuated by the transmitting plates and engaging the driver-plates, the inner cylinder consisting of a shank integral with its transmitting plate.

21. In a heel-nailing machine, a frame-column. a jack supported upon the column and provided with driver-passages, a plurality of sets of drivers reciprocating in the passages, a plate to which each set of drivers is secured, said plates being arranged one above anothena shaft rotatable in the column below the jack, a plurality of cams fast upon the shaft, each cam imparting to a set of the drivers the nail-inserting movement, a set of transmitting plates guided side by side in the frame, one of the plates resting upon each cam, a set of concentric cylinders actuated by the transmitting plates and engaging the driverplates, and latches carried by the outer cylinder and engaging the upper driver-plate.

22. In a heel-nailing machine, a frame-column, a jack supported upon the column and provided with driver-passages, a plurality of sets of drivers reciprocating in the passages, a plate to which each set of drivers is secured, a shaft rotatable in the column below the jack, a plurality of cams fast upon the shaft, each cam imparting to a set of the drivers the nail-inserting movement, a set of concentric cylinders actuated by the cams and engaging the driver-plates, a pin fitting openings in the outer cylinder and extending through slots in an inner cylinder, and a spring interposed between the pin and the frame and acting to retract the drivers.

23. In a heel-nailing machine, a driver-assembly comprising a plate provided with guide-openings, drivers mounted upon the plate, a second plateand drivers mounted upon the second plate and guided in the openings of the first plate, and means for holding the plates and drivers together as a unit for removal and replacement. v 24. In a heel-nailing machine, a driver-assembly comprising a plate provided with guide-openings, a driver mounted upon the plate, a second plate, a driver mounted upon the second plate, a third plate and a driver mounted upon the third plate, the drivers of the second and third plates being guided in openings in the first plate.

25. In a heel-nailing machine, a driver-assembly comprising a plate provided with guide-openings, drivers mounted upon the plate, a second plate and drivers movable upon the second plate and guided in the openings of the first plate.

26. In a heel-nailing machine, a driver-assembly comprising a plate provided with guide-openings, a driver mounted upon the plate, a second plate, a driver mounted upon the second plate, a third plate and a driver mounted upon the third plate, the drivers of the second and third plates being movable in ways therein and guided in openings in the first plate.

27. In a heel-nailing machine, a driver-assem-.

bly comprising a plate provided with guide-openings, a driver mounted upon the plate, a second plate, a driver mounted upon the second plate, a third plate and a driver mounted upon the third plate, the drivers of the second and third platesv being guided in openings in the first plate, and means for holding the plates and drivers in their assembled relation.

28. In a heel-nailing machine, a driver-assembly comprising a plate provided with guide-openings, a driver mounted upon the plate, a second plate, a driver mounted upon the second plate, a third plate and a driver mounted upon the third plate, the drivers of the second and third plates being guided in openings in the first plate, and a tubular member provided with slots to receive the second and third plates.

' 29. In a heel-nailing machine, a driver-assembly comprising a plate provided with guide-openings, a driver mounted upon the plate, a second plate and a driver mounted upon the second plate, the drivers of the second plate being guided in openings in the first plate, a tubular member provided with slots to receive the second plate, and latches upon the tubular member and engaging 'the first plate.

30. In a heel-nailing machine, a jack having a shoe-supporting top, nail-drivers reciprocable therein, a plate upon which the drivers are mounted, means arranged to vary the individual heightof each driver upon the plate, and means arranged to vary the vertical relation of the jacktop to the ends of the drivers.

31. In a heel-nailing machine, a frame, lower and upper base-pieces supported upon the frame and 'hav'mg inclined contacting surfaces, one of the base-pieces being movable with respect to the other, a jack mounted upon the upper basepiece, and drivers reciprocable in the jack.

32. In a heel-nailing machine, a frame, a jack rising therefrom, drivers reciprocable in the jack, two base-pieces interposed between the jack and the frame and having inclined contacting surfaces extending laterally of the jack, and means arranged to move one of the base-pieces in the direction of extension of the inclined surfaces.

33. In a heel-nailing machine, a frame, a jack rising therefrom, drivers reciprocable in the jack, two base-pieces interposed between the jack and the frame and having inclined contacting surfaces extending laterally of the jack, means arranged to move one of the base-pieces in the direction of extension of the inclined surfaces, and means for preventing lateral movement of the jack.

34. In a heel-nailing machine, a frame, a jack rising therefrom, drivers reciprocable in the jack, two base-pieces interposed between the jack and the frame and having inclined contacting surfaces extending laterally of the jack, means arranged to move one of the base-pieces in the direction of extension of the inclined surfaces, and means for preventing lateral movement of the jack and of one of the base-pieces.

35. In a heel-nailing machine, a frame, a jack rising therefrom, drivers reciprocable in the jack, two base-pieces interposed between the jack and the frame and having inclined contacting surfaces extending laterally ofthe jack, means arranged to move one of the base-pieces in the direction of extension of the inclined surfaces, and a projection extending from the jack through the base-pieces and into the frame, it passing with clearance through the movable base-piece.

36. In a heel-nailing machine, a frame, a jack rising therefrom, drivers reciprocable in the jack, two base-pieces interposed between the jack and the frame and having inclined contacting surfaces extending laterally of the jack, means arranged to move one of the base-pieces in the direction of extension of the inclined surfaces, and a projection extending from the jack through the base-pieces and into the frame, it passing with clearance through the movable base-piece, the projection being in two sections, the upper fast upon the jack and the lower seated in the frame and provided with a socket to receive the upper section.

37. In a heel-nailing machine, a frame, a jack rising therefrom, drivers reciprocable in the jack, two base-pieces interposed between the jack and the frame and having inclined contacting surfaces extending laterally of the jack, means arranged to move one of the base-pieces in the direction of extension of the inclined surfaces, a projection extending from the jack through the base-pieces and into the frame, it passing with clearance through the movable base-piece, and a screw threaded through the upper base-piece and engaging the projection.

38. In a heel-nailing machine, a frame provided with horizontal ways extending from front to rear of the machine, a lower base-piece movable in the ways and having an upper inclined surface, an upper base-piece having an inclined surface contacting with that of the lower, a screw rotatable in one of the base-pieces and threaded into the other, a jack mounted upon the upper base-piece, and drivers reciprocable in the jack.

39. In a heel-nailing machine, a frame provided with horizontal ways extending from front to rear of the machine, a lower base-piece movable in the ways and having an upper inclined surface, an upper base-piece having an inclined surface contacting with that of the lower, a screw rotatable in one of the base-pieces and threaded into the other, a jaclr mounted upon the upper base-piece, means engaging the frame for holding one of the base-pieces against movement produced by the rotation of the screw, and drivers reciprocable in the jack.

4-0. In a fastening-inserting machine, a worksupport, a plurality of sets of drivers oo-operating ierewith, a pressure-abutment co-operating with the support, a power-shaft, fluid connecting means between the power-shaft and the pressureabutment, and a plurality of cams rotatable by the shaft, each cam being in substantial contact with adjacent cams, certain of said cams being respectively individual to the sets of drivers for actuating them and one of said cams controlling the fluid connecting means.

41. In a fastening-inserting machine, a frame, a work-support mounted thereon, fasteningdrivers reciprocable in the support, a pressureabutment movable upon the frame toward and from the support, a cylinder movable upon the frame and connected to the pressure-abutment, a piston reciplocable in the cylinder and having a passage, a valve mounted upon and movable with the piston for opening and closing the passage, a power-shaft rotatable about a fixed axis, means operated by the shaft and engaging the piston to actuate it, and means operated by the shaft for actuating the valve.

42. In a fastening-inserting machine, a frame, a work-support mounted thereon, fasteningdrivers reciprocable in the support, a pressureab-utment movable upon the frame toward and from the support, a cylinder movable upon the frame and connected to the pressure-abutment, a piston reciprocable in the cylinder and having a passage, a valve mounted upon and movable with the piston for opening and closing the passage, a power-shaft rotatable about a fixed axis, a cam upon the shaft for actuating the piston, and a second cam upon the shaft for actuating the drivers and the valve.

43. In a fastening-inserting machine, a frame, a work-support mounted thereon, a plurality of sets of fastening-drivers reciprocable in the support, a pressure-abutment movable upon the frame toward and from the support, a cylinder movable upon the frame and connected to the pressure-abutment, a piston reciprocable in the cylinder and having a passage, a valve mounted upon and movable with the piston for opening and closing the passage, a power-shaft rotatable about a fixed axis, cams rotatable by the shaft and respectively individual to the sets of drivers for actuating them, one of said cams actuating the valve, and a cam upon the shaft for moving the piston and therewith the pressure-abutment.

44. In a heel-nailing machine, a frame, a jack mounted thereon, drivers reciprocable in the jack, a pressure-abutment movable upon the frame in co-operation with the jack, a cylinder acting upon the abutment, a spring interposed between the cylinder and abutment, means arranged to normally compress the spring, a piston movable in the cylinder, and means for reciprocating the piston and communicating its movement through the cylinder and spring to the abutment.

45. In a heel-nailing machine, a frame, a jack mounted thereon, drivers reciprocable in the jack, a pressure-abutment co-operating with the jack, opposite side-rods movable in the frame and carrying the abutment, a cylinder mounted upon the side-rods, springs surrounding the siderods and upon which the cylinder rests, means arranged to normally compress the springs, a piston movable in the cylinder, and means for reciprocating the piston.

46. In a heel-nailing machine, a frame, a jack mounted thereon, drivers reciprocable in the jack, a pressure-abutment co-operating with the jack, opposite side-rods movable in the frame and carrying the abutment, a cylinder mounted upon the side-rods, springs surrounding the siderods and upon which the cylinder rests, means arranged to normally compress and to Vary the compression of the springs and thereby the force applied to the abutment, a piston movable in the cylinder, and means for reciprocating the piston.

4'7. In a heel-nailing machine, a frame, a jack mounted thereon, drivers reciprocable in the jack, a pressure-abutment co-operating with the jack, opposite side-rods movable in the frame and carrying the abutment, said side-rods having threaded ends upon which are nuts and shoulders spaced therefrom, a cylinder mounted upon the side-rods, springs surrounding the side rods and upon which the cylinder rests, said springs contacting with the nuts and forcing the cylinder toward the side-rod-shoulders, a piston movable in the cylinder, and means for reciprocating the piston.

48. In a fastening-inserting machine, fastening-inserting mechanism, a movable pressure member co-operating therewith, power mecha nism for moving the pressure member, fluid connecting mechanism between the power mechanism and the pressure member and including a valve, operating means for the valve, and means arranged to relieve resistance of the valve to opening.

49. In a fastening-inserting machine, fastening-inserting mechanism, a movable pressure member co-operating therewith, power mechanism for moving the pressure member, fluid connecting mechanism between the power mechanism and the pressure member and including a valve, operating means for the valve, and means included in the operating means and arranged to relieve resistance of the valve to opening.

50. In a fastening-inserting machine, fastening-inserting mechanism, a movable pressure member co-operating therewith, power mechanism for moving the pressure member, a cylin der and a tubular piston movable therein for transmitting movement from the power mechanism to the pressure member, and a valve controlling the passage through the piston into the chamber between the piston and the cylinder, said valve having an actuating rod formed in relatively movable sections, there being a passage connecting opposite sides of the closed valve and controlled by one of the rod-sections.

51. In a fastening-inserting machine, fastening-inserting mechanism, a movable pressure member co-operating therewith, power mechanism for moving the pressure member, a cylinder and a tubular piston movable therein for transmitting movement from the power mecha nism to the pressure member, the piston having at its end a closure provided with a main passage, a valve-seat about said main passage and a by-pass from the main passage about the valve-seat, and a valve co-operating with the seat and having an actuating rod controlling the by-pass.

52. In a fastening-inserting machine, fastening-inserting mechanism, a movable pressure member co-operating therewith, power mechanism for moving the pressure member, a cylinder and a tubular piston movable therein for transmitting movement from the power mechanism to the pressure member, the piston having at its end a closure provided with a main passage, a valve-seat about said main passage and a by-pass from the main passage about the valve-seat, and a valve co-operating with the seat, said valve being provided with an actuating rod having two end-sections, onecontrolling the by-pass and the other movable upon the companion section and carrying the valve.

53. In a fastening-inserting machine, fastening-inserting mechanism, a movable pressure member co-operating therewith, power mechanism for moving the pressure member, a cylinder and a tubular piston movable therein for transmitting movement from the power mechanism to the pressure member, the piston having at its end a closure provided with a main passage, a valveseat about said main passage and a by-pass from the main passage about the valve-seat, a valve co-cperating with the seat, said valve being provided with an actuating rod having two end-sections, one controlling the by-pass and the other movable upon the companion section and carry ing the valve, and a spring interposed between the two sections and exerting its force to unseat the valve.

54. In a heel-attaching machine, a jack, drivers reciprocable therein, and pressure means cooperating withthe jack and comprising a support, a heel-tread-abutment and a rear abutment pivoted upon the support and a member acting simultaneously upon the abutments to adjust them in opposite directions and to retain them in their adjusted relation.

55. In a heel-attaching machine, a jack, drivers reciprocable therein, and pressure means cooperating with the jack and comprising a support, a heel-tread-abutment and a rear abutment pivoted upon the support, a member acting simultaneously upon the abutments to adjust them in opposite directions and to retain them in their adjusted relation and means acting to urge the tread-abutment normally toward the jack.

56. In a heel-attaching machine, a jack, drivers reciprocable therein, and pressure means co-" operating with the jack and comprising a support, a heel-tread-abutment and a rear abutment pivoted upon the support and a right and left screw with its opposite threads acting upon the respective abutments to move them toward and from each other.

57. In a heel-attaching machine, a jack, drivers reciprocable therein, and pressure means cooperating with the jack and comprising a movable carrier, a heel-tread-abutment and a rear abutment movable by and upon the carrier in arcuate paths and a member acting upon both abutments to adjust them simultaneously toward or from each other.

58. In a heel-attaching machine, a jack, drivers reciprocable therein, and pressure means cooperating with the jack and comprising a movable support, a lever pivoted thereon, a treadabutment mounted upon the lever, an arm pivoted upon the lever and provided with a rear abutment and means engaging the lever and arm and arranged to move them toward or from each other.

59. In a heel-attaching machine, a jack, drivers reciprocable therein, and pressure means cooperating with the jack and comprising a movable support, a lever pivoted thereon, a treadabutment mounted upon the lever, an arm pivoted upon the lever and provided with a rear abutment and means arranged to vary the angular positions of the lever and arm.

60. In a heel-attaching machine, a jack, drivers reciprocable therein, and pressure means cooperating with the jack and comprising a movable support, a lever pivoted thereon, a treadabutment mounted upon the lever, an arm pivoted upon the lever and provided with a rear abutment, means arranged to vary the angular position of the lever and arm and index devices associated with the pivots of the lever and arm.

61. In a heel-attaching machine, a jack, drivers reciprocable therein, and pressure means cooperating with the jack and comprising a movable support, a lever pivoted thereon, a treadabutment mounted upon the lever, an arm pivoted upon the lever and provided with a rear abutment and a screw having threaded engagement with the lever and arm.

62. In a heel-attaching machine, a jack, drivers reciprocable therein, and pressure means cooperating with the jack and comprising a movable support, a lever pivoted thereon, a treadabutment mounted upon the lever, an arm pivoted upon the lever and provided with a rear abutment, means engaging the lever and arm and arranged'to move them toward or from each other and a spring connecting the support and the lever.

63. In a heel-attaching machine, a jack, drivers reciprocable therein, and pressure means operating with the jack and comprising a movable support, a lever fulcrumed upon the support, a slide variable in position upon the lever and provided with a tread-abutment, an arm pivoted upon the lever and provided with a rear abutment, nuts swiveled upon the lever and arm and a screw connecting the nuts.

64. In a heel-attaching machine, a jack, drivers reciprocable therein, and pressure means 00- operating with the jack and comprising a movable support, a lever fulcrumed upon the support and having spaced sections, a block fixed between the sections, a slide movable upon the block and having a heel-tread-abutment, a divided arm pivoted between the lever-sections and having a rear abutment, right and left nuts swiveled between the lever-sections and between the divisions of the arm and a right and left screw threaded through the nuts.

65. In a heel-attaching machine, a jack, drivers reciprocable therein, and pressure means cooperating with the jack and comprising a movable support, a lever fulcrumed upon the support and having spaced sections, a block fixed between the sections, a slide movable upon the block and having a heel-tread-abutment, a divided arm pivoted between the lever-sections and having a rear abutment, right and left nuts swiveled between the lever-sections and between the divisions of the arm, a right and left screw threaded through the nuts, a stop member situated between the sections of the lever, a screw threaded through the support for engagement by the stop member and a spring connecting the support and lever to urge the stop member toward the screw.

FRANK E. S'I'RATION. 

